Cash-register



No. 6l0,492. Patented Sept. 6, I898. J. H. McCORMlCK.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed July 11, 1896. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 6l0,492. Patented Sept. 6, I898.

, J. H. McCORMICK.

CASH REGISTER.

(Application filed July 11, 1896.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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JOHN H. MCCORMICK, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,492, dated September 6, 1898.

Application filed July 11,1896. Serial No. 598,868. (No model.)

To coZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. McCormick, a citizen of the United States, residing at C0- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Cash-Registers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in caslrregisters, and it especially relates to that class of registers in which a series of cashkeys is employed in connection with registering mechanism arranged in separate groups or departments in connection with special or department keys which when operated are adapted to place the registering mechanism of its particular group or department in position to be operated so that the amounts indicated by the cash-keys may be registered in any department.

An object of my invention is to provide intermediatelocking mechanism between the caslrkeys and the special keys by means of which one set or species of keys is locked un til the key of the other set or species is operated.

A further object of my invention is to provide mechanism for preventing the operation of more than one special or department key.

A further object of my invention is to provide locking means which will prevent the operation of a key of one set or species until a key of the other set or species is completely operated.

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and more fully set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a device embodying my invention, the casing or inclosing parts being broken away to better illustrate the construction and operation of the respective parts. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the cash-keys and the devices connected therewith for locking the same and operating the intermediate operating devices connected with the special or department keys. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the arrangement of the department-keys and the intermediate looking devices connected therewith. Fig. at is a detail view in perspective, illustrating the intermediate locking parts between the cashkeys and the special keys.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In the drawings, a represents an outer frame or casing,which may be of any suitable size and shape, adapted to support the operating parts. Extending through this frame or casing, preferably near the center, is a sta tionary rod or shaft a, and on this rod or shaft is journaled a number of registering-wheels b b 1) 12 which wheels are arranged in groups,as shown at 1, 2, and 3, the wheels of each group being substantial duplicates of the wheels of the other groups. At one end of the casing there are cash-keys arranged in series, as shown at c, c, 0 and a each series containing nine keys, numbered from 1 to 9, and each series corresponding to one of the registering-wheels in each group. Each series of cash keys represents a denomination-as units, tens, hundreds, thousands-and each registering-wheel in each group represents a similar denomination.

Extending across the entire series of registering-wheels and journaled concentrically therewith on the shaft to" is a series of bars (Z d (1 d which may be termed denominational bars and which correspond with the denominational registeringwvheels of each group and also with the respective series of cash-keys. Each of these bars has arranged opposite its respective series of cash-keys a swinging segment (1, journaled eccentrically and provided with notches which are adapted when the segment is released to contact, respectively, with one of the cash-keys of the series. Each of the registering-wheels has a pawl-lever (F, with a pawl (1 which engages with the teeth on the periphery of its registering-wheel. The pawl-levers have stems d ,which rest on the denominational bars d d, &c. The pawl-levers are also provided with auxiliary projections (Z which are normally held by pivoted latches e. A swinging arm f, pivoted on the shaft a, adapted to be operated by the movement of an auxiliary part, such as a cashdrawer g, normally rests in contact with the denominational bars d d, &c., and also serves to return said bars to their normal positions by the movement of the moving part, such as the cash drawer,

after they have been operated. Each of the latches c has a projection e, which stands in line with a key h, of which there is one for each department, these keys being special or department keys.

There is pivoted on the shaft a at the side of each series of cash keys 0 c, 850., two toothed plates j and 7c, and each key is provided wit-h an auxiliary projecting pin adapted to engage with the teeth of the said plates, which are each beveled on one side, as shown in Fig. 2, The teeth in the plate It have straight sides near the bottom, while those in the plate j are notched, so as to engage and hold the projections la. The Plate khas a pin 70 therein adapted to engage one end of a bell-crank lever m, the opposite end of which is provided with a hook m to en gage a pin m in the end of the swinging segment 61 The drawer g is provided with a lock g, and each of the latches a has a projection 6 which engages with a bar 9 on the lock g, so that the operation of either of the latches e will operate the drawer-lock g.

The operationof the parts thus described is as follows: The pressing of any cash-key in the series will cause the plates j and k on the shaft a, to oscillateuntil the said key is depressed. The plate It will be held in this position as long as the key is depressed; but the plate j will return to its normal position as soon as the pin 70 has passed the hook on said plate, which will engage and retain the key in its depressed position. The pin 70 will, by the movement of the plate It, contact with the bell-crank lever m and release the hook m from the pin m If this operation is now followed by the operation of one of the department-keys, the drawer will be unlocked and the armf will swing down, thus permitting all the denominational bars which have been released by the operation of the key in that series to swing down until the notch in the segment (1 corresponding to the key depressed contacts with said key. The pressing of a department-key will also operate the latch 6 corresponding to that department, which will permit the pawl-levers d of said department to move with the denominational bar. This sets the mechanism in position for registration, and as the drawer or other moving part is returned to its normal position all the parts will, through the medium of the arm f, return to their normal positions,thus moving the registering-wheels corresponding to the pawl-lever a distance equal to the movement of the denominationbar which corresponds to the keydepressed. To prevent error in operation and to insure the registration of any amount indicated by the cash-key in one or the other departments, I provide interlocking mechanism between the cash-keys and the department-keys by which the operation of a key in one set locks or unlocks the keys of another set. This is accomplished as follows: On each of the toothplates j is an extension], having a lateral projection 9' This projection normally contacts with a finger n on a rod or shaft n, which extends across the series of special or department keys h. This shaft 01 has a series of notches 41 one for each key h, and each of the key-stems h is also notched, as shown at hiwhere the shaft crosses it. The shaft n is adapted to-project into the notch h of each of the keys; but the notch n normally stands in line with the key It, and when in this position the key h may be moved longitudinally through the notch n Extending across the department-keys is a second shaft 0, parallel with the shaft n and preferably on the opposite sides of the keys h from said shaft. This shaft 0 is also provided with notches 0', one for each key h, and the keystems have corresponding notches h, in which the shafts are adapted to turn. The shaft 0 stands normally with the solid portion thereof turned into the notch h, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the key h is normally locked thereby. The shaft 0 has a finger or projection 0 to which is connected a link 0 pivoted at its other end to the bell-crank lever m. Now as the respective plates j and k are oscillated by one of the cash-keys the rods n and o are correspondingly turned. The effect of this is to unlock the key It by moving the notch 0' in the shaft 0 in line with said key and to again lock the key h by turning the solid portion of the shaft 91 into the notch W. The rod or shaft 0 will be retained in this position so long as the key is depressed by reason of the straight portion of the teeth of the plate 70 resting in contact with the pin 70 in the cashkey. The plate 7', however, having the hookshaped teeth will return to its normal position as soon as the cash-key has been pressed to its limit, and the spring a will return the shaft n to its normal position, thus unlocking all the department-keys. The re-. sult of this constructionis that all the de partment-keys are locked until one or more cash-keys have been completely depressed and retained in this position. Any oneof the department-keys can now be unlocked,

which will effect the registration in the manner heretofore described. It should be noted that as the department-key is operated the straight portion thereof will enter the notch n in the shaft n, which will prevent the shaft from turning until this department-key has moved to its normal position. This will keep the finger n in contact with the projection j on the plate j, and thus will prevent the operation of any other key until the departmentkey has been returned to its normal position. It will be understood that there is a finger n for each series of cash-keys, so that all the cash-keys will be looked after a departmentkey is depressed.

A swinging bar or plate 19, having suitable arms 19 on a stationary shaft or bar 19 is arranged above and in contact with all the keys h, which have inclined teeth 77, h in the nature of ratchet-teeth, with which the plate 1) IIO is adapted to engage, the plate 1) normally resting in contact with the teeth 71,3 and bein g adapted to rest in contact with the teeth h when the key is depressed, and thus furnish the means for engaging and retaining any department-key which has been depressed.

To provide for looking all the other keys when one department-key is depressed, I employ a flexible locking cord, chain, or cable 9". This flexible locking device is connected at each end to the stationary rod 19 and extends backwardly and forwardly over hooks or projections 7L5 and r on the keys and shaft, respectively. The construction is such that there is just sufficient slack in the flexible locking device to permit the movement of one key, so that when said key is pressed to its limit the flexible locking device is drawn up tight against the respective hooks or projections r and 7L5, and thus prevent the in ovement of any other department or special key.

Means are provided for returning the parts to their normal positions after the registration has taken place, which may be briefly described as follows: On a stationary rod or shaft 8 is a bell-crank lever 3, having a laterally and backwardly extending arm 8 in which there is a pin 5 which projects into a slotted opening 5* in a link or connecting-bar the opposite end of which is pivoted. to a swinging arm 3 on a suitable shaft s above and slightly to the rear of the movable drawer g. This drawer g has a projection 9 which as the drawer moves is adapted to contact with the end of the arm 5 As the drawer moves outwardly the slotted opening 8 permits the necessary movement of the link 3 Without operating the bell-crank lever s. As the drawer moves inwardly the outer end of the projection 9 contacting with the end of the swinging arm 8 oscillates the bell-crank s. This bell-crank s has a rod .9 therein, which contacts with each of the extensions j on the plates j, and as the bellcrank leveris oscillated the platesj are moved about the shaft a, so as to release the cashkeys held thereby. The releasing of the cash-keys will release the swinging plates 71; and permit the bell-crank levers m to return to their normal positions and engage the swinging segments 011 the denominational bars. A link or rod .9 from the bell-crank lever s connects to the arms 19 of the swinging plate p, thus raising said plate as the bell-crank lever is oscillated so as to release the keys. The movement of the bell-crank lever m and the swinging plate also permits the shafts n and o to return to their normal positions, when the department-keys will again be locked and all the parts ready for a new operation. It will be seen that by this construction means are provided by which the movements of the department-keys and the cash-keys are relatively interdependent one upon the other. The department-keys are normally locked and are unlocked by the operation of a cash-key. The departmentkeys, however, are locked by the movement of a cash-key, but immediately unlocked as soon as the operation of the cash-key is com pleted. The depression of a department-key after being thus unlocked by a cash-key locks all the cash-keys and also looks all the other department-keys.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A plurality of registers, cash-keys common to all of said registers, and special keys, one for each register, and intermediate locking devices between the special keys and cashkeys by which one set of said keys may be locked or unlocked by the operation of a single key in the other set, substantially as specified.

2. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of cash-keys, and a series of special or department keys, a locking device to normally lock said department-keys, and means for operating said locking device to unlock said department-keys when one of the cashkeys is depressed, and a locking device for said cash-keys adapted to be operated to lock said cash-keys when one of the special keys is depressed, substantially as specified.

3. In a cash -register, a series of cash-keys, and a series of special or department keys, and a locking device to normally look said department-keys, and means for operating said locking device to unlock said departmentkeys when a cash-key is operated, and an auxiliary locking device operated by said cash-keys to lock said department-keys durin g the operation of the cash-key and to lock said cash-keys by the operation of a department-key, substantially as specified.

4. In a cash-register, a series of cash-keys and a series of special or department keys, a rotating rod or shaft having a series of notches corresponding to said department-keys, and solid portions adapted to be turned into cor responding notches in the said departmentkeys, and means for rotating said shaft by the operation of the cash-keys to lock or unlock said department-keys, substantially as specified.

5. The combination with a series of cashkeys, and a series of department-keys, of one or more rods or shafts having notches corresponding to said department-keys which are also notched to correspond to said shafts, and intermediate devices operated by said cashkeys adapted to contact with projections on said shaft whereby the operation of one or more cash-keys serves to lock and unlock said department-keys, and the operation of a department-key serves to lock and unlock said cash-keys, substantially as specified.

6. In a cash-register, a series of cash-keys and a series of registers, an actuating mechanism for the registers controlled bythe cashkeys, special keys to control the registers, and an intermediate locking device between the ICO IIO

special keys and cash-keys whereby the cashkeys are looked after a special key is operated, substantially as specified.

7. In a cash-register, a series of cash-keys, a series of registers, a common intermediate actuating device controlled by said cash-keys for operating said registers, special keys for controlling the movement of said registers and an intermediate locking device for looking said special keys until a cash-key has been depressed, substantially as specified.

8. The combination With a series of cashkeys, a series of registering-wheels, and intermediate mechanism corresponding in denomination to each of said wheels and to said cash-keys, actuating devices for said registering-wheels controlled by said intermediate denominational devices, and special keys for unlocking said actuating devices, and an intermediate connection between said cashkeys and special keys whereby the special keys are locked until one or more cash-keys are operated, and the cash-keys looked after a special key is operated, substantially as specified.

9. In a cash-register, cash-keys and special or department keys, and intermediate looking devices betweensaid cash-keys and special keys whereby one set of said keys is normally locked until one or more of the keys of the other set is operated and all of the keys locked after a key ofthe second or normally-locked set is operated, substantially as specified.

10. In a cash-register and in combination with registering devices arranged in groups or departments, a series of cash-keys common to all of said groups, and a series of department-keys, one for each group, and intermediate locking devices between the respective cash keys and the department keys, and means connected with each of said keys to operate said locking devices so that when a key of the first set is operated it will unlock the keys of the second set, and when a key of the second set is operated it will lock the keys of the first set, substantially as specified.

11. In a cash-register and in combination with a plurality of registering devices, a series of cash-keys common to all of said registers, and a series of special keys, one for each register, and intermediate locking mechanism between the respective cash-keys and special keys whereby one set of said keys is normally locked, and means connected with each of said keys to operate the locking mechanism so that when a key of the normally-unlocked set is operated it will unlock the keys of the normally-locked set, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. In combination with a plurality of normally-inactive registers, a series of cash-keys common to all of said registers, and intermediate mechanism between said cash-keys and registers, special keys for controlling the operation of. said registers by said intermediate mechanism, and a locking device between said cash-keys and special keys whereby one set of said keys is normallylocked and is unlocked by the operation of the other set whereby the proper successive operation of the keys in each set is secured, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of June, A.'D. 1896.

Witnesses:

A. W. SHIELDS, F. G. FULLINGTON.

JOHN H. MCCORMICK. 

